Urumqi Riot : China faces worst riot in its Xinjiang province

At least 156 people were killed in a riot involving Uighur, Turkic ethnic group in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and ethnic Han settlers in Urumqi city, capital of Xinjiang Uyaghur Autonomous Region. We may not know the exact figure, chronological events leading to the riot as well as actual death toll and ethnicity of deaths, but it was big enough for Chinese President Hu Jintao to leave G-8 submit in Italy for home earlier than scheduled.

Riot in Urumqi, China's western Xinjiang province

Though the riot has been brought under control by China overwhelming deployment of riot police, paramilitary forces, but China has begun to realise its vulnerability. This riot s supposed be the biggest and most embarrassing incident in China after March, 2008, Tibet uprising. China is accusing Al Qaida to have links with criminal elements in Urumqi rioters. Uighur is Muslim ethnic minority group living in a atheist country China. This province was once a Uighur majority area but systematic and government aided ethnic Han Chinese settlement in this province has made Uighur nos constitute 40% of its total population.

Uighur has many political organisation themselves and World Uyghur Congress is a umbrella organisation for many of Uighur Muslims outside China. China accuses this World Uyghur Congress for inciting the riot in Urumqi. Rebiya Kadeer, its charismatic exiled leader is also known as The Uighur Dalai Lama, though she is as charismatic as His Holiness Dalai Lama. She was a successful business woman in Beijing in 1980s before she was arrested and imprisoned for leaking national secret by Chinese government. But later she was released and exiled and since she is leading World Uyghur Congress.

This riot is a dangerous wake up call to Chinese government review its policy about its ethnic minorities. Also, Uighur may not be as peaceful or tolerant like Buddhists in Tibet. Uighur being Muslim ethnic group, it may find many sympathizers among various Muslim organisation across the globe including Al Qaida. China may have very good relation with Pakistan, home to AL Qaida top leaders as per recent reports, but Pakistan government may be of no help while dealing with Al Qaida.

China has lately banned prayer in masques in Urumqi, arrested Uighur blogger, threatened execution to rioters, asked its friendly countries to help it arrest culprits for the riot. China has deployed a very large number of security forces in Urumqi city. This has always been China’s response to any riot or political uprising, try to control the uprising with iron hand by its large securiy forces. It has worked in Tienanmen square in 1989, it worked in Tibet, it seems to be working in Urumqi too! But Urumqi may be a different this time!

It will be really interesting to see reactions from various Muslim countries, orgnisations and other Western countries always vocal on Human Rights and Minority rights issue.

Technorati Tags: china, china affairs, Dalai Lama, Han, Rebiya kadeer, riot, turkic ethnic muslim, uighur, Uighurs, urumqi, Uyaghur, Uyaghurs, war, west china, World Affairs, world uyghur congress, world war, Xinjiang, Xinjiang province

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